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Arecanut in Kerala

White (chali) supari. This guide covers where arecanut grows in Kerala, when it reaches the market, where and how it is sold, and who buys it.

AgricultureIndustry.in › Cash and Plantation Crops › Arecanut in Kerala
Main districtsKasaragod, Kannur, Malappuram, Kozhikode
SeasonHarvest October–February in most areas.
Government buyingNo MSP; private trade
ResearchKerala Agricultural University, Thrissur
Export routeKochi, Vizhinjam
StateKerala farm trade guide

About Arecanut

India is the world's largest producer and consumer of arecanut (supari), with Karnataka growing most of it and cooperatives handling much of the trade.

Where Arecanut Is Grown in Kerala

The main arecanut districts of Kerala are Kasaragod, Kannur, Malappuram, Kozhikode. Kerala is India's leading producer of natural rubber and coconut, and the traditional home of the spice trade. It grows banana (including Nendran), cashew, arecanut, ginger, rice in Kuttanad and Palakkad, and has a long history of cashew processing in Kollam.

Season in Kerala

Harvest October–February in most areas. Exact arrival dates in Kerala depend on local sowing and the monsoon, so check current arrivals before planning purchases.

How Arecanut Is Sold in Kerala

Kerala has no APMC Act. Produce is sold through private traders, cooperative societies and specialised boards for rubber, coconut and spices. Supplyco buys paddy from farmers.

Other major markets in Kerala

State Agencies in Kerala

Arecanut has no minimum support price, so it is bought almost entirely by private traders, processors and exporters. State marketing bodies regulate the markets and support farmer producer organisations.

Quality and Price Notes

Arecanut is chewed with betel leaf in paan, sold as sweetened supari and mouth fresheners, and used by pan masala makers. Cooperatives such as CAMPCO buy from growers and sell to traders in Gujarat, Maharashtra and the North, which are the main consuming regions. Arecanut leaf sheaths are pressed into eco-friendly plates, a small but growing export product.

Red supari is graded as rashi, bette, saraku, gorabalu and other local grades by size, colour and cut. Chali (white supari) is graded as new and old chali, with old (stored) chali fetching a premium. Moisture, mould and insect damage reduce prices sharply.

Prices depend on the Karnataka and Kerala crop, demand from pan masala makers, and on how well imports are controlled. Cheap arecanut from Southeast Asia entering through neighbouring countries depresses prices, so the government sets a minimum import price and growers' cooperatives press for strict checks. Yellow leaf disease in Malnad and the long gestation of new gardens limit supply.

Buyers, Processors and Exporters

These companies and bodies buy, process or export arecanut across India, including from Kerala. Tap a name for details.

Research and Advice in Kerala

New varieties, crop advice and seed for arecanut growers in Kerala come from the state agricultural universities below and from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in each district.

Check today's arecanut prices in Kerala

Arecanut in Other States

Karnataka · Assam · Meghalaya · West Bengal · Goa

Related: Arecanut – all India · Kerala · All crops

Names are listed for reference only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation. The About and Explore buttons open Google in a new tab; results there are generated by Google and third parties, not by this site. Prices, MSP, export rules and schemes change often. Nothing here is financial, legal or purchasing advice. Full disclaimer